After 20 years in the making, Davidoff Cigars unveils its newest cigar range, Davidoff Yamasá

PIONEER. EXPLORER. DISCOVERER.

Zino Davidoff was all of these, and more. Henke Kelner, Davidoff’s globally acclaimed cigar visionary, embodies that same daring spirit today. His endless pursuit to bring the cigar aficionado new tastes, experiences and pleasures, led him and his team of experts to the Yamasá region. A harsh and unforgiving swampland where others had tried and failed to grow tobacco, and which would ultimately deliver an incredible intensity and complexity. Everyone said it couldn’t be done. Henke dreamed that it could. He followed his vision during 20 years. As yet unencountered, intense and complex flavours and aromas were the reward for his quest. Davidoff Yamasá is now finally ready to be unveiled.

“The essence of Davidoff Yamasá cannot be better expressed than through the words of Bernard Shaw who said: “Some men see things as they are and wonder why, I dream things as they should be and say, why not?” The Davidoff Yamasá cigar came to light because of men like Henke Kelner and his team who challenged the impossible and who through their deep expertise, difficult bets and incredible perseverance managed to realise their dreams. A Yamasá cigar burns with the same pioneering sense of purpose as the aficionado who enjoys it, with a flame that ignites as yet undiscovered dreams. Taste buds are roused and exhilaration is felt thanks to this blend that mixes the earthiness of Yamasá with the spice and sweetness of Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega tobaccos,” explained Charles Awad, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing & Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG.

MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

The new Davidoff Yamasá has been 20 years in the making. 20 years of Henke Kelner’s and his team’s expertise, of nurturing and cultivating soil that was reluctant to change. The development of Yamasá is the story of men who challenged the impossible in the pursuit of their dream.

For the Yamasá region to unveil its true potential, Henke Kelner and his team had to first nurture nature. To raise the pH levels to those that best suit the growing of tobacco (5.5 to 6.5). They conditioned the soil by adding calcium carbonate, agricultural lime and slaked lime/dolomitic lime. This they did at intervals of every two months, by hand and to each and every single tobacco plant, then once a month, before transplanting. Henke Kelner didn’t rely on science. He relied on his own expert intuition.

Seed selection saw the elimination of 30 down to just 3, until only the best in terms of colour, shine and lamina stood out. The site in Yamasá covers 100 hectares, but only 21 are used. Henke Kelner and his team know to rest the land between each harvest so as to let nature take its course, and to help ensure that the unmatchable quality of the Yamasá leaf is maintained for years to come. They grew the tobacco in the shade, shielding it from the harmful effects of the sun.

The curing process was equally as important. The ‘yellow’ stage, where the more yellow the leaf, the better the wrapper it makes, implored Henke Kelner and his team to ensure the Yamasá wrapper fulfilled its true potential. For this, entirely new climate controlled curing facilities were constructed.

Moreover, the deep expertise built over the years by the Davidoff team in taming the wilder tendencies of Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega tobaccos has helped deliver an exhilarating Yamasá blend with all the intensity, refinement and sophistication aficionados would expect from Davidoff.

Henke Kelner followed his dream. In his own words, they ‘continued, continued, and continued’ until they got it right. And now, aficionados can explore the exceptional taste of Davidoff Yamasá.

INSTENSE EXHILARATION IN THE TASTING

The cigar presents the aficionado with an appetising appearance, in colour, shine and oiliness. Davidoff Yamasá begins with an immediately noticeable spicy Nicaraguan taste. Beautiful flavours of nut, melted with spice, coffee, cedar wood, earth and black pepper notes further delight the aficionados’ palate. The cigar has a deep and complex body that slowly reveals itself through the elegantly aged Dominican filler tobaccos. The more intense Yamasá binder and Yamasá wrapper as well as the sweetness of Nicaraguan Condega and the spiciness of Nicaraguan Estelí filler tobaccos combine and deliver an entirely new, exhilarating earthy-spicy-sweet experience.

As a tasteful compliment and to pair these intense and incredibly complex flavours, Davidoff suggests a spicy rum from Nicaragua or perhaps from the Dominican Republic. The aficionado might also want to choose a smooth single malt whisky – a drink of such sophistication would marry perfectly with Davidoff Yamasá.